Thermoelectric generator



1946. H. .1. FINDLEY 2,410,72

THERHOELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed April 22, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Han/AZ fine/.5)

NOV. 12, 1946.

H. J. FINDLEY THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed April 22, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llll-llllllll. IIIIII I.'- I.. I.

HHHH MQHH H INVENTOR. Han A90 .77 F/MOL E Y Patented Nov. 12, 194% 2,410,8{72 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR Howard J. Findley, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio I Application April 22, 1943, Serial No. 484,085

Claims. 1

This invention relates to thermoelectric gen= erators and more particularly to an improved, compact and simplified construction for a device of this kind.

through the fuel tank at a point to show the fuel supply line to the burner;

Fig. '7 is a detached view, on an enlarged scale and with portions in section, showing fuel deflecting means associated with the burner;

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detached view, with portions in section, further illustrating an igniting device associated with the burner;

Fig. 10 is a partial vertical sectional view, on

, an enlarged scale, showing means for connecting electric generator having liquid fuel burning Serial No. 491,908, filed June 23, 1943, in which a 3 method of generating current thermoelectrically is claimed. The present application is also related to my copending application Serial No. 491,909, filed June 23, 1943, and disclosing a thermoelectric generator having collapsible inner and outer stack members.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings:'

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with portions broken away, showing a thermoelectric generator embodying my invention;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale and showing the parting line between the movable housing member and the fuel tank of the base.

Fig. 2 is another elevational view with portions thereof broken away and with the lid and housing members in open position;

Fig. 3 is a. transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detached longitudinal sectional view of the burner assembly;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the burner showing the same on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view taken the housing member with the base;

Fig. 11 is another partial vertical'sectional view showing locking means for the lid member, and

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a. load circuit connected with the thermoelectric generator.

Proceeding with a more detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention, I show my improved thermoelectric generator as having a hollow base it upon which the device may rest or stand and a thermopiie it supported by the base and extending thereabove so as to receive heat from a fuel burning means or burner as sembly i2 contained in the base. A tubular hous-. ing member 53 surrounds the thermopile ii and is movable axially thereof from a closed position as shown in Fig. 1, to an open position as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end of the housing member it has an enlarged portion or flared skirt lBa thereon which, in the closed position of the housing member, forms an upper section of the hollow base ill. The lower section of the base is formed by a ring-shaped fuel tank it adapted to contain gasoline or other liquid fuel. The hollow base also includes a tapered section or hood member 15 having its larger end supported on and fastened to the tank it and having a transverse wall i6 at its upper end which supports the upright thermopile II. This hood member has a plurality of openings ill in its side wall which admit air to the burner assembly for combustion purposes and through which various fuel control members are accessible or accommodated as will be further explained hereinafter. In addition to forming a support for the thermopile i I, this hood member houses and protects the burner assembly tube or sleeve l9. formed of refractory and electrically insulating material, and a plurality of thermocouple groups it carried by such re- 3 fractory sleeve. Each of the groups 2@ may comprise a number of series-connected individual thermocouples of any suitable construction and disposed with their hot junctions 2i in the combustion chamber i8 and their cold junctions 22 outside of the combustion chamber and in. the

annular spaceor passage 23 etxending between the sleeve i9 and the housing member iii. The thermocouples extend through the wall of the refractory sleeve i9 and may be suitably mounted in appropriate openings thereof. The thermo-- couple groups 213 may be connected with each other in series, parallel or series-parallel relation.

The thermopile ii may be connected with the base ill by being clampingly held between a spii5 cler 2d and the transverse wall it of the hood member 95. Screws or tie rods 2-5 extend through the spider and the transverse wall it of the hood member for this purpose. The lower end of the refractory sleeve i9 may be seated in a recessed 2%) portion its of the transverse wall so as to surround an opening i511 thereof through which the upper end of the burner assembly 52 extends.

The burner assembly i2 comprises a burner tube 28, whose upper end communicates with the 25 more or less into the ring opening 33 of the fuel 35 tank Ml and may be supported in the hollow base by means of one or more arms 34! connecting the same with the hood member Iii.

As mst shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the burner nozzle has a delivery opening or orifice 35 at its upper end which is controlled by a rotatable and axially movable burner pin 38 having a threaded connection with the burner body at the point 37. The outer end of the pin hasa tip 38 of reduced size for cleaning the orifice and a tapered portion or valve element 39 which cooperates with the orifice in forming a fuel control valve. Rotation is imparted to the burner pin 36 by means of an actuating stem or spindle 4i carryinga knob H at its outer end and having its inner 5 end connected with the pin through the bevel gears 42 and t3.

The gear 42 may be pinned or otherwise connected to the spindle 4!! and the gear 43 may be connected with the burner Pin 36 by means of a pluraltiy of radially disposed pins 44. The pins Ml are carried by a washer 45 and their inner ends extend through the gear 43 and engage 'in axial slots or keyways woof the burner pin 36.

Thisconnection between the gear 63 and the burner pin 36 permits the latter to move axially in the burner body and in the gear 43 while the latter remains continuously in mesh with the gear 4?. The spindle Ml extends through, and

is journaled in an extension 56 of the burner body 29. The extension 4% extends upwardly and outwardly over the fuel tank [4 and projects through one of the openings I! of the hood member IS. The lower end of the burner body 29 is closed by 36 from the ring opening 33 of the fuel tank.

Fuel is supplied from the tank It through the pipe 48 to the chamber of the vaporizer 3! and The burner assembly 30 Eli of the burner body which is located just inwardly of the orifice 35. The delivery of fuel to the burner assembly from the tank i4 is obtained by maintainin a pressure in the fuel tank. For this purpose air may be forced into the fuel tank by means of the manually operable pump 5i which projects through another of the openings i! of the hood member 85. If desired the fuel tank may be provided with a gauge housing 52 containing a suitable pressure gauge for indicating the pressure in the {fuel tank and a suitable fuel gauge for indicating the amount of fuel in the tank. The gauge housing 52 is located on the tank i l at a point to be readily visible through one oi. the opennigs H of the hood member.

The priming cup 32 which surrounds the burner body 29 is adapted to contain a quantity of liquid fuel which can be ignited and burned for the purpose of preliminarily heating the burner body and the vaporizer Si. The fuel for priming the burner is obtained from the tank it by opening the fuel control valve so as to permit liquid fuel to be discharged through the orifice 35. To prevent such liquid. fuel from being squirted into the combustion chamber id, I provide a deflector 53 which is movable to a position over the orifice and deflects the stream so that the fuel runs down and collects in the cup $2.

The deflector 53 is best shown in Figs; 7 and 3 and is carried by a shaft 55 having an actuating knob 55 disposed outside of the hood member IS. A compression spring '56 disposed around the shaft 54 normally holds the deflector 53 in a retracted position removed from the burner nozzle, as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. Just before opening the fuel valve by rotation of the knob 6 l, the knob 55 is pulled out to its full line position thereby moving the deflector 53 to a position in front of the nozzle orifice. After the desired amount of fuel has been collected in the priming cup 32 the fuel valve is closed and the knob 55 is released.

The fuel in the priming cup is then ignited as by means of a match, or preferably, by means of an igniting device 51 having a flint 58 disposed adjacent the cup 32 and an actuating member 58 located. outside of the hood member l-5. The shaft 60 of the igniting device carries a knurled sparking wheel 6| which cooperates with the flint 58, the latter being held against the wheel by pressure supplied by the spring-actuated arm 82.

As above indicated my improved thermoelectric generator is of aportable nature and is adapted to be manually carried from one-point of use to another. For this purpose I provide suitable carrying means which in this instance is in the form of a bail-type handle 64 pivotally connected with the housing member I3 adjacent its upper end. When the housing member I3 is in itsclosed position, as shown in Fig. 1. its enlarged lower end I3a surrounds the fuel burning means and. the

fuel control members and seats against the fuel tank H to form a smooth continuation of the hollow base l0 and a relatively tight closure which will prevent rain, dust and other foreign can be connected with the base I0 and for this inner and outer screw plugs 26 and 21 which are, removable to afl'ord access to the burner pin purpose I provide the housing member with a plurality of fasteners 65 which are rotatably mounted on the enlargement l3a at spaced points therearound and are adapted for locking cooperation with brackets 66 projecting from the hood memthen through the pipe 49 to a recess or chamber her l5 at correspondingly located points.

When the thermoelectric generator is to be placed in operation the fastening members 65 are unlocked and the housing member is is lifted to its open position as shown in Fig. 2. The housing member is retained in this open position by means of pivoted stops or pawls 67 which are carried by channel members 68 dependin from the spider 26 and are adapted to swing or drop to a load-carrying position as shown in Fig. 2. When the housing member is to be lowered to its closed position the pawls 57 are swung inwardly to lie in the recesses or grooves of the channel members 68 and in which position they do not interfere with the downward movement of the housing member i3.

The upper end of the housing member is is closed by a lid member 69 which is adapted to be lifted to an elevated position as shown in Fig. 2. The lid member 69 is carried by annularly spaced channel-shaped rods or posts 'i which are frictionally slidable in channel-shaped guides H which are attached to the inside of the housing member it at correspondingly spaced points.

-\When the lid member $9 is in its closed position end oflthe combustion chamber with considerable velocity and are in a heated condition, an elector action will be produced within the stack and will cause cool air to be drawn into the lower end of the housing member This cool air entering the housin member will flow across the thermocouples 2t? and will maintain the outer junctions 2'2 relatively cool.

From Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the spider 2 3 at the upper end of the thermopile has a plurality of openings 73 which permit the escape of the heated gases from the combustion chamber is and has another group of openings which permit the cooling air to pass upwardly in the housing member 13 after flowing over the thermocouples 26. If desired, a spreader 75 may is mounted on the spider 2% so as to extend downwardly into the combustion chamber I8 for a suitable distance. This member serves to spread the flame and heated combustion gases so that they will come into more direct contact with the hot junctions 2i of the thermocouples.

Reverting to the starting operation, it will be understood that whenthe housing member is and lid member 69 have been moved to their open position and a quantity of fuel has been collected in the priming cup 32 and ignited, as above explained, the burning fuel heats the burner and vaporizer and this generates vapor pressure in the vaporizing chamber 3!. When the priming charge has been nearly consumed the fuel control valve is reopened and the fuel vapor which issues from the nozzle 3t will be ignited and a sustained flame or blast will thereafter be directed into the combustion chamber it by the nozzle and the heating of the junctions 2! will result in an electric current being generated in the thermopile;

I As before indicated my thermoelectric generator can be used to generate electric current for gamers various purposes and, in Fig. '12, I show the thermopile H connected with an external load circuit 16 containing a storage battery ii to be charged. A reverse-current cutout or relay 18 may be provided in the circuit for preventing the battery from discharging through the thermoplle when the device is not operating as a generator. The reverse-current cutout comprises the usual shunt and series coils Hand 80 and a pair of contacts 8| and 82 in the load circuit. When the thermoelectric generator is placed inoperation, as above explained, the current produced by the thermopile first energizes the shunt coil it which causes closing of the contacts ti and 82. As soon as these contacts are closed, charging current is supplied to the battery ii and in passing through the series coil 80 acts to maintain the contacts 8i and 82 closed. When th operation; of the generator is to be discontinued, the fuel control valve is closed whereupon the charging current ceases and as soon as current from the battery 'i'l flows in a reverse direction through the series coil 80, the contacts 8i and 82 are automatically opened to break the circuit and prevent the battery from becoming discharged.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will now be readily understood that I have provided an improved, simplilied and compact thermoelectric generator which can be manually carried from one point of use to another. It will be seen also that in my improved generator the burner assembly and fuel control members are all housed in the hollow base and while the device is being transported the housing member covers and protects the thermoplle and forms a tight closure with the base. It will be seen furthermore that when the thermoelectric generator is to be placed in operation the housingmember can be quickly and invention as including all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An upright thermoelectric generator comprising, abase upon which the device is adapted to stand, an upright thermoplle supported by said base and extending thereabove, fuel burning means on said base and adapted to supply heat to said thermoplle, a housing member having a tubular portion surrounding said thermoplle and an enlarged lower portion whioh'engages said base when said housing member is in a closed position, said housing member being llftable to an open position in which said enlarged lower portion is spaced above said base to permit an inflow prising, a base upon which the device is adapted to stand and containing a tank for liquid fuel, an

upright thermoplle supported by said base and extending thereabove,, liquid fuel burning means onsaid base and adapted to receive fuel from said tank and to supply heat to said thermoplle, a housing member having a tubular porti n suraeiaeva 7 rounding said thermopile and an enlarged lower portion which engages said base when said housing member is in a closed position, said housin member being liftaiole to an open position in which said enlarged lower portion is spaced above said base to permit an inflow of cool air around the thermopile and said tubular portion forms a stack supporting said housing member in its open positioh.

3. An upright thermoelectric generator comprising, a base upon which the device is adapted to stand and containing a tank for liquid fuel, an upright hollow themiopile supported by said base and extending thereabove, a burner on said base and adapted to be supplied with liquid fuel from said tank, said burner being disposed so as to direct burning fuel upwardly into the lower end of said hollow thermopile, a housing member having a tubular portion surrounding said thermogiil and an enlarged lower portion which engages said base when said housing member is in a closed position, said housing member being liftaiole to an open position in which said enlarged lower portion is spaced above said base to pei'mit an inflow of cool air around the thezmopile and said tubular portion f-cmis a steel: extending above the thermopile, and means for supporting said housing member in its open position.

4. Au upright thermoelectric generator comprising, a base upon which the device is adapted to stand and containing a ring shaped tank for liqmd fuel, an upright hollow thei'mopile sup ported by said base and extendingthereabove, a burner on said base and adapted to be supplied I with liquid fuel from said tank, said burner being located at least in part in the opening of said ring shaped tanl: and disposed so as to direct burning fuel upwardly into the lower end ox" said hollow thermopile, a housing member having a extending above the thermopile, and means for tubular portion surrounding said thermopile and an enlarged lower portion which engages said base when said housing member is in a closed position. said housing member being liftabie to an open position in which said enlarged lower portion is spaced above said base to permit an inflow of cool air around the thermopile and said tubular portion forms a stack extending above the thermopile, and means for supporting said housing member in its open goosition.

5. A manually portable upright thermoelectric generator comprising, a base upon which the device is adapted to stand and containing a ring shaped tank for liquid fuel, a hollow hood member supported on said tank and extending thereabove, an upright hollow thermopile supported by said hood me'iiber and extending thereabove, fuel burning means located in said hood member and opening of said ring shaped tank and adapted to be supplied with liquid fuel from said tank, said fuel burning means being disposed so as to direct burning fuel upwardly into the lower end of said hollow thermooile, a housing member having a tubular portion surrounding said thermopile and an enlarged lower portion which surrounds said hood-member and engages said base when said housing member is in a closed position, said housing member being liftable to an open posi tion in which said enlarged. lower portion is spaced above said base to permit an inflow of cool air around the thermopile and said tubular portion forms a stack extending above the thermopile, means for connecting said housing member: with said hood member when the housing member is in its closed position, carrying means connected with said housing member, and means for supporting said housing member in its open position. I HOWARD J. ETNDLEY. 

